An appeals court has upheld a decision to strip parental rights from a New Brunswick couple after the mother took the children to a priest for an exorcism while the father was in prison.

Thursday's ruling sustains the state's decision to take the couple's two children.

Authorities say the two children were ages 2 and 3 when their mother asked a priest to perform an exorcism because she was hearing voices and fighting an urge to give the kids to the devil.

In its ruling, the appellate court stated that the mother's hallucinations were "a significant harm for the children."

A judge found the mother had done little to treat her illness and the father refused to treat his substance abuse problems.

According to the court, "[The] father was undoubtedly aware of mother's psychiatric problems, yet did nothing to ensure the children's safety and stability ... Instead, he was incarcerated for months at a time and refused to acknowledge or treat his longstanding addiction to cocaine."

The state put the children in foster care because no other family member was available. The foster mother has decided to adopt the children.